What is on the Outside

In reviewing my photo collections from the past 5 years I realized that while I take a lot of photos inside of a building, I rarely ever take photos from outside.

As I mentioned in my previous post I am working on a project, and it means I need exterior photos of all the places I go to, full documentation. *sigh* Still, it is good practice and who knows, I may be able to learn something in this exercise.

The City United Methodist church is an imposing building, and if I had bothered to take photos from the outside in previous visits you would know what is so shocking about this view.

Not that long ago, maybe even less than a month, this lot was a grove of trees. There was one giant, probably 80 or 90 years old, that sheltered the walk up. It was surrounded by several younger trees that were probably ranging from about 40 and younger. They are all gone. I’m pretty pissed off about the giant tree in particular, and the grove in general. Why are all the trees gone? Because some 401(c)3 has decided that “god’s house” should be restored. In a city brimming with “god’s houses”.

I can understand if this building was salvageable, but it isn’t. The amount of money that it would take to rescue it from the decades of fire, neglect and vandals boggles my mind. It isn’t even a particularity historic building, just an impressive church that is a tile in the mosaic of Gary history.

But no, they’re going to come in, clear out all the trees and, do what? Shore up the building so it collapses a little slower? Crazy glue the facade back together? Chase all the vandals away? I don’t know and I cannot find any information online regarding any one’s plans for it. I seriously doubt the building will be closed to urban explorers as we are a persistent lot. While my little group has a policy of no breaking and entering, if someone else broke in and left a door or window open, we’re not adverse to taking advantage of that. In the case of this building, the doors are all wide open or gone and there are even holes in the walls (in more than one place) for people to creep through should they feel so inclined.

In the end we do not know what this mystery group has planned for the most iconic urban exploring location in Gary, we’re just going to have to wait and see. Our group visits at least once yearly just to see how things have changed and while we’ve already done a visit this year we are going to keep an eye on the place to see what transpires. In the meantime here are some photos from the years past. I’ll miss be able use the trees as a backdrop for drag queens.

4 responses

tabularasa88

It occurred to me after the fact that the trees may have been perceived as a public safety issue, as they could obscure crime (drug deals, prostitution) that may be taking place within. It’s the only logical thing I’ve come up with.